This past Saturday night, we had our second Itayanagi Chapel concert. The night was a pizza and concert event where those attending could show up at 7:00 and enjoy some home made pizza and then stick around for the concert, puppet show and Canada presentation afterwards. We did not know if anyone from outside church connections would come, but we were very hopeful that seekers affiliated with the church would come. It turned out that one new person came while the chapel was mostly filled with non-Christians who have been coming out to events and a few Christians. The Ghents and ourselves were able to spend a lot more one-on-one time with those in attendance because there were so few. We had decided for this concert to try and get people more involved and God just ran with the rest. We sang a couple of jumping songs and did not know how people would respond, but found that the whole building was jumping and dancing. Whether they knew it or not, God's presence was so powerful in that place.
On Sunday morning, we lead worship at Itayanagi Chapel. This service was different than usual as it was a testimony and praise service. This meant that Martin did not preach a message. Colin, Rebecca and Aimee lead the singing with seven Japanese songs, which was a big accomplishment. Also, Job and Rebecca had the great opportunity of sharing their testimonies. The Young Life group played the special song that we taught them on Friday night. They did a great job and it was just so amazing to see the future worship team stepping out in confidence with their gifts. Another very exciting part about this Sunday was that a new family came. This woman's two children attend the Young Life group and her daughter plays the piano. She was a part of the band for the special song performed at church on Sunday. The little girl told her mom that she had to come to church because she had to play her part on the piano. She was hesitant because she has never been to church before, but did not want to disappoint her daughter. The mother coming out to church was a very big next step for her on her way to making a committment to Christ. We are praying that she and her children will continue to come out to church and the whole family will come to know Him.
On Sunday afternoon and evening, we helped with a concert and free barbeque event at Harvest Chapel. The church just had its cross and sign put up last week so now people know about the church and, through events like this one, will know that they are welcome to come out. We did not know how many people would come due to the fact that it was a little bit rainy and that there was a county wide children's sports day all day. The Ghents and ourselves were so enthralled to find that a little over one hundred people came. There were many new faces. The Ghents did not even know how some of the people found out about the concert. The weather had absolutely no effect on God's plans! Due to the fact that many of them were children, we did some kids songs and a puppet show along with the actual concert material. The parents and the grandparents danced and jumped along with the children and did all of the actions. There was so much joy in the chapel! We also had the opportunity to sing "As the Deer" in Japanese as well as English. The people were very receptive to this song because they were so surprised by the fact that we ended with a song in their own language. Martin gave a short message later on in the concert and the crowd was very attentive. Martin said that this was a really new thing for him because the other times he has given messages at these outreach events the people have been uninterested. Many people had the opportunity to hear about Jesus that day and we must keep praying that they will continue to be curious and that they will come out to more events.
The Harvest Chapel concert
Monday is usually our mandatory day off, but this week we had a special event planned for the evening. One of the Christian ladies from the Itayanagi Chapel invited us to go out with her for the day so she could show us some local museums and take us out for lunch. At the first museum we went to, we sat in on a small concert with two national shamisen champions. After they were finished, we had the opportunity to talk with one of them. We found out that three years prior he had played at the coffee house adjacent to Itayanagi Chapel and that he knew the woman who was showing us around. None of us believe this was a coincedence. God wanted us to meet him. He asked us to sing for him there and so we all sang "God of Wonders" together. When we were finished, he asked us when our next concert was and so we invited him to come and play at the coffee house that night. He told us that he would come and it turns out that he did! He came at the beginning and stayed for the entire time. He brought his shamisen and did a mini concert. Afterward, we had the chance to talk with him some more and invited him to come and play basketball with us mid-week and he said yes to that as well. Please remember him in prayer as he claims to be a firm believer in Shintoism.
Nick rocking out on the shamisen
Kaitlyn and Soo Jin got to try the battle drums at the museum
The coffee house was overall a very exciting time! This was the launching of the coffee house being open on Mondays and was a kind of celebration event. The place was completely packed! Other than the team, the Ghents and a couple of employees, the rest of those in attendance are not professing Christians. Our team had the opportunity to share before each worship song we played and were able to tell them what God means to us. The Ghents were able to make some new connections as there were some people there whom they had never met before. The place was filled with so much joy and everyone had a great time. We are really praying that this is only the beginning and that future coffee houses will draw out the same people and more.
Job playing some Switchfoot covers at the coffee house
One of our favourite babies (Coco) :)
The Iris cafe and book store on the night of the coffee house
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